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Are you traveling to Australia in 2026 and looking for a good eSIM provider?
After visiting Australia twice in the last two months, I got a pretty good chance to test out eSIMs in all sorts of places. While Australia is undoubtedly vast, my trips took me from the main cities of Sydney and Brisbane to small islands off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef, and a few beautiful eco-habitat spots throughout Queensland where there wasn’t much around, including reception (of all kinds). That is to say, I got to see more than just the cities.
Before traveling, you might want to plan your route so you stay connected when needed and know which parts you’ll struggle with, even when you have a good eSIM provider.
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR AUSTRALIA
- 📱 Best eSIM: Ubigi eSIM (my top pick) – 25GB for 30 days for around $35 Also get 10% your plan with discount code BACHELORTRAVEL
- 🚗 Car Rental: Discover Cars – Australia is made for road trips and comparing prices here usually saves a lot of time. I’ve rented a car in Australia a few times and the insurance options here are a must.
- 🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com – still my preferred way to book accommodation in Australia
How Mobile Networks Work in Australia
Australia has three major mobile networks: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
If you’re only visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (or the major cities in general), you probably won’t notice much difference between them.
To get a better view of coverage, I like to start my testing by looking at the coverage map.
Traditionally, Telstra has the strongest reputation for rural and remote coverage. If you’re planning a serious road trip through the Outback or spending lots of time away from major towns, you’ll often see people recommending Telstra first.
Vodafone has picked a completely different marketing angle that has also angered quite a few people, with their “Nothing’s Out Here” campaign, which basically says: our network is stronger where Australians actually live, aka the cities.
Here’s another punchline from the ad:
“Another big telco spends millions to build towers out here and charges customers for it. Well, Vodafone doesn’t, cause clearly nothing’s out here, except massive chickens.”
Looking at the map, you’ll note the huge concentration of 5G networks around Victoria (Melbourne) and New South Wales (Sydney) as well as Canberra.
Personally, I didn’t spend as much time in those areas, so the difference on the northern parts was pretty minuscule.
I think Telstra makes more sense if you are visiting for a longer period of time, or relocating to Australia.
Ubigi: My Experience
For this trip, I mostly used Ubigi, which currently operates through the Optus network in Australia.
But I also had access to and feedback on the spot, from a local on the Telstra network.
Did I notice a difference?
Sometimes.
There were a few occasions while driving through Queensland where my connection would drop out slightly before theirs did, or where they would regain signal a few seconds faster than I would.
The key thing is that we’re talking seconds, not hours.
The main areas were we both struggled were driving north from Brisbane towards Bundaberg and the Great Barrier Reef islands.
Since I didn’t expect good signal there to start with… this wasn’t an issue. Even the hotel WiFi was patchy and inconsistent at times.
I’ve also tested Ubigi in Europe and Iceland (plus now Australia), so past experiences have all been excellent.
Setup is fast and efficient, and once you’ve installed the eSIM you can continue using it in different countries by simply purchasing a new local plan.
With Ubigi I recommend downloading the app:
- select your package
- install before departure on your phone with 1 click
- switch it on when you land and enjoy having internet straight away
Topping Up
I first mentioned this in my guide to eSIMs in Iceland and got some feedback that it’s actually a pretty common experience. How easy is it to top up if you run out of data?
With Ubigi, you can top up directly through the app, even if your existing plan has run out and you have no data.
That means if you’re halfway through a road trip, realise you’ve burned through your data allowance and have no WiFi (like happened to me in the middle of New Zealand on a ferry), you can still purchase more data and get back online.
The alternative is turning on roaming, which cost me more than $60 for under a minute.
It’s one of those features that seems completely irrelevant until the day you need it, and fortunately Ubigi makes it a pretty painless process.
Comparison Table
I test various eSIM companies and try to always stay up to date on the market, and what I often hear about Ubigi is that it’s high priced. So let’s test if that claims actually holds true in this case.
Due to the nature of how I travel (15 days minimum and 20GB on average, this is what I use as my base line to test high data/long day travel options).
I also think Australia is one of those locations you visit for 2 weeks minimum so it makes sense to focus on 15+ days.
Some companies are also known for better value the longer you travel (and Ubigi is definitely one of them).
| Provider / Plan | Data | Duration | Approx Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubigi 🔥 Recommended | 25 GB | 30 days | $31.5 with discount 10% | Best overall value for longer trips. 🎁 Code: BACHELORTRAVEL |
| Airalo | 20 GB total | 15 days | $29 | Good option for shorter trips but less data. |
| Roambit.io | 20 GB | 30 days | $31.23 | Newer provider that is often running promotions. |
| Saily | 20 GB | 30 days | $29.99 | |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 25 days | $48.36 with discount 5% | 🎁 Code: BACHELOROFTRAVEL |
Looking purely at price versus data, Ubigi actually ends up being much more competitive than its reputation suggests.
In fact, it’s one of the few destinations where I think Ubigi sits comfortably in the “best value” category rather than the “premium option” category.
How Much Data Do You Actually Need in Australia?
Australia is not exactly a cheap destination, so there’s no point paying for more data than you’ll realistically use.
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time on social media, uploads videos, watches content on the go or simply doesn’t want to think about data limits, I actually think Ubigi’s unlimited 15-day plan is the sweet spot. At around $45, it’s reasonably priced and gives you one less thing to worry about while travelling.
Personally though, I’d go for the 25GB / 30-day plan for $35.
Most of my trips are around two weeks long and I’ve tracked my data usage enough by now to know that I usually consume about 20GB per trip. That’s with fairly heavy use too.
I’m talking:
- Google Maps running constantly
- Uploading photos and videos
- Booking accommodation on the go
- Answering emails
- Researching places to visit
- General scrolling and social media
- Occasional work from my laptop
Even during this Australia trip, where I was driving around Queensland and relying heavily on navigation, I never felt like I was close to running out.
Do You Really Need a Number in Australia?
If you’ve used eSIMs before, you’ll know that most providers don’t include a local phone number.
In some countries, that can be annoying. I often find myself calling restaurants, tour operators or accommodation providers while travelling, especially when I’m researching articles or leading groups.
The good news is that Australia is one of the easier countries to navigate without a local number.
In fact, I found that many businesses were faster to respond by email than by phone, which is almost the opposite of my experience in places like Greece. As long as you have internet, you’ll usually be able to get what you need sorted fairly quickly.
One thing I did notice during my work duties is that Australians don’t seem to rely on WhatsApp and Viber nearly as much as Europeans do. Most people were happy to text, email or call directly instead.
That said, I never felt like I needed an Australian number during either trip.
For most travelers, having reliable data for Google Maps, bookings, emails and general communication will be far more important than having a local phone number.
Love these two photos. One is a classic Aussie fish and chips lunch shared with a few cheeky magpies, while the other captures the metro station with an incredible view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Other Things to Note and Remember
These are general things I’ve found useful to keep in mind while travelling and using eSIMs.
- Battery Drain
Your phone works harder when tethering or hotspotting and trying to stay connected while moving in and out of mobile towers. When you’re doing road trips, make sure to bring a power bank.
- Download Offline Maps
Even though coverage is generally good, it is a good idea to download your Google Maps before heading into more remote parts of the country.
- Tell Someone Where You’ll Be
Australia is generally pretty safe, but weather, distance and unexpected situations can still catch people off guard. Make sure to tell someone where you’re travelling and when you’re expected to arrive.
Ready to book? Top Australia recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Australia: Easiest option is Ubigi — reliable across the country and super easy to set up before landing.
🎟️ Top Australia activities:
Australia is sooo big and has so much to do that it can honestly be difficult to know where to start.
Keep in mind these are all things I’ve done and LOVED!
If you’re staying in Sydney, I’d look at:
- Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (expensive but iconic)
- A walking and food tour of Sydney’s neighborhoods with this company. Really great!
If you’re looking for the “wow” factor though, these are the experiences that stuck with me:
- Lady Musgrave Island – one of the coolest reef experiences I’ve done anywhere in the world. Think turtles, crystal-clear water and snorkeling straight off a pontoon in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef.
- K’gari (Fraser Island) Multi-Day Tour – probably the most unique island in Australia and somewhere I still want to spend more time exploring.
- Noosa Eco Retreat / Habitat Stay – one of the most peaceful places I stayed during my trip and a great way to experience Australian wildlife and nature away from the cities.
🚗 Car rental: Australia is one of the best road trip destinations in the world. Compare prices on DiscoverCars before booking, especially if you’re planning to explore outside the major cities.
